Tom Waits

I think TW is an acquired taste, like sushi. People seem to either love him or dismiss him as too peculiar. I love the guy, and along with the 2 new ones have been listening to the wonderfully remastered "Used Cars", a compilation of songs from the early years. Beautiful, witty, sardonic, typical.Interestingly, he was interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air a couple weeks ago and it was a hoot. Very funny, listening to the interview was like listening to one of his song. But the apogee, for me, was when Terry Gross asked him where he gets his influences from. Early influences were from 30's and 40's music, including cabaret music, which he was into at 10-11 years of age. He found it more "interesting" than rock and roll. But asked about current influences he said he likes to listen to familiar music form different angles, and-this is where I laughed my ass off- " I like to listen to 2 radios at the same time."

No Doubt Tom Waits is an American original.
His lyrics have a way of inevitably lodging in one's subconscious. Teased out by copious amounts of whiskey, they only seem to resurface in the wee hours of the morning when you're "Walking Spanish down the hall."
Try "Rain Dogs." Marc Ribot's guitar work too is memorable as are the Uptown Horns.

Mingus, try checking out Primus' "Antipop" song 13 ( what a coincidence, huh ?? ) titled "Coattails of a Dead Man". The title even sounds like a Waits song.... Sean
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Thanks Sean,I've ordered Antipop from BMG.Your right that is a great song-Lacquer Head too